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Tesco innovations during Hickson’s predecessor’s four-year tenure as Labs head included voice shopping via Google smartspeakers

Tesco has recruited a new head of its technology arm following Angela Maurer’s departure from the role in August last year. 

New Tesco Labs head Jo Hickson has more than 20 years’ experience in leading a range of innovation teams, according to the supermarket’s tech division. 

Hickson was previously head of technology at digital agency AKQA and before that head of innovation at travel operator Tui UK & Ireland.

Read more: Tesco Labs’ Paul Wilkinson moves to head of product role

‘Great to have started my new position as Head of Tesco Labs,’ Hickson wrote of her appointment on LinkedIn this week. ‘I’m excited to join a team with such breadth and depth of experience - looking forward to seeing what the future holds.

Tesco innovations during Hickson’s predecessor’s four-year tenure as Labs head included voice shopping via Google. 

A Tesco Labs source told The Grocer last year that a more advanced Google app for voice shopping from the supermarket was on the way, but it has yet to materialise.